Ribbon vibrators and operating mechanism therefor



1966 A. c. ZEAMER ETAL 3,265,180

RIBBON VIBRATORS AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1963 INVENTORS AARo/v C. ZEAMER BY ROY C. PAPPAS 270M) M v M A TTORNE Ys 9, 1966 A. c. ZEAMER ETAL 3,265,180

RIBBON VIBRATORS AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 I560 INVENTORS I I Q 5 AARON C. ZEAMER F 4 Ror C. PAP/3A6 j J JM,%+M

ATTORNE Y8 United States Patent 3,265,180 RHBBON VIBRATGRS AND @PERATING MECHANISM THEREFGR Aaron C. Zeamer, Groton, and Roy C. Pappas, Cortland,

N.Y., assiguors to SCM Corporation, New York, N .Y.,

a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 3%,845 6 Claims. (Cl. 197-170) This invention relates to typewriters and, more specifically to novel, improved ribbon carriers or vibrators for typewriting machines.

There are now in widespread use typewriter ribbons much thinner than those used in the past. Considerable difliculty has been encountered in using these ribbons in typewriters equipped with conventional ribbon vibrators such as the vibrator shown in United States Patent No. 2,884,112 issued April 28, 1959, to E. C. Lunde-berg for Typewriter Ribbon Shield, for example. As shown by this exemplary patent, conventional ribbon vibrators have openings through which the ribbon is inserted into and removed from the vibrator and, therefore, only partially surround and do not closely confine the ribbon. The exceptionally thin ribbons now in use are therefore not properly controlled by conventional vibrators and consistently become wedged or buckle into these openings. As a result, the ribbon is displaced from its proper position, and when a type key is actuated and the ribbon vibrated upwardly to the printing position, a partially typed character or a character that is part red and part black will result.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide novel improved vibrators which will properly control even the thinnest typewriter ribbons and prevent them from buckling.

In general, this important object is accomplished by a novel vibrator construction in which the typewriter ribbon is completely surrounded and closely confined to prevent it from buckling.

Ribbon vibrators which completely surround the typewriter ribbon have heretofore been proposed by E. J. Manning in Patent No. 702,447 issued to him June 17, 1902, for Ribbon Guide for Type Writing Machines. However, the Manning vibrators were developed long before the advent of thin ribbons, and Manning did not recognize the problem of properly controlling such ribbons and did not disclose vibrators capable of solving this problem. Moreover, the Manning vibrators are unduly complicated for a device of this type and employ latches which are small and hard to grasp and therefore awkward to operate.

ineffectual control of thin ribbons, undue complexity, awkwardness in installing and removing ribbons, other undesirable characteristics and a complete lack of recognition of the problem are also found in other prior vibrators completely enclosing the typewriter ribbon such as the vibrators shown in United States Patents Nos. 787,566 issued April 18, 1905, to C. H. Dowlen for Ribbon Guide for Type Writers; and 1,812,447 issued June 30; 1931, to L. A. Nemcovsky for Typewritin g Machine.

It is consequently another important object of the present invention to provide novel ribbon vibrators which completely and properly confine and position the typewriter ribbon, which are of extremely simple construction, and which do not require the typist to operate latches or otherwise manipulate the vibrator when inserting or removing a ribbon.

In conjunction with the foregoing objects, further objects of the present invention include the provision of novel ribbon vibrators:

Patented August 9, 1966 (1) which will properly confine and position the ribbon and yet allow complete freedom of ribbon movement;

(2) which promote easy and convenient installation and removal of the ribbon; and

(3) which are economical to construct.

Other objects and further novel features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a ribbon vibrator constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and the associated typewriter mechanism together with portions of the typewriter side frames;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the ribbon vibrator of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a left side elevation of the ribbon vibrator of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of a second form of ribbon vibrator;

FIGURE 5 is a left side elevation of the ribbon vibrator of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the upper end of the ribbon vibrators of FIG- URES 2 and 4, which, insofar as FIGURE 6 is concerned, are identical;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of a lanced ribbon guiding arm taken substantially along line 77 of FIG- URE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the ribbon vibrator of FIGURE 4, showing the manner in which the components of this form of ribbon vibrator are joined.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, ribbon vibrator 8, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, may be incorporated in a typewriter 10 having left and right side frames 12 and 14 and a movable carriage including a platen 16 against which the type-receiving member is held. Typewriter 10 is provided with a ribbon 18 threaded through vibrator 8 and around ribbon spools 20 and 22 which are detachably fixed to the upper ends of shafts 24 and 26 rotatably supported from typewriter side frames 12 and 14 at opposite sides of the typewriter. The typewriter also includes a number of type keys 28 (only one of which is shown).

When a type key 28 is depressed, it actuates an associated type action 29 through a power driven actuating mechanism 30, pivoting the head 31 of a type bar 32 upwardly to the printing position. At the same time, depression of type key 28 actuates a ribbon vibrator mechanism 34, elevating ribbon vibrator 8 to raise ribbon 18 to the printing position.

The illustrated typing mechanism including type key 28, power driven actuating mechanism 30, and type action 29, is of the type disclosed in United States Reissue Patent No. 25,011 issued to J. P. Barkdoll July 18, 1961, for Typewriter Having Power Operated Instrumentalities to which reference may be had if desired for a detailed explanation of its construction. In general, type key 28 is mounted on the upper end of a keystem 36 connected by pivot studs 38 and 40 to keystem supporting links 42 and 44. Keystem supporting links 42 and 44 are, in turn, pivotally mounted on fulcrum rods 46 and 48 which extend through a laterally oriented fulcrum bar 49 attached to the typewritter side frames 12 and 14. Keystem 36 is biased to the illustrated inoperative position with keystem extension 50 abutting a cushioned stop 52 by an appropriate keystem return spring (not shown).

Fixed to link 44 by a pivot stud 54 is a vertically extending trigger 56. A spring 58, connected between link 44 and trigger 56, biases a trigger extension 60 against the side of an aperture 62 in link 44. The upper end of trigger 56 is adapted to engage an extension 66 formed on the foward end of a a rocking lever 68 fixed by a pivot stud 70 to a toggle link 72 pivotally mounted on a laterally extending anchor rod 74. Rocking lever 68 is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 76 connected between the rocking lever and a pawl rocking cam 78 fixed by a pivot stud 80 to a depending extension 81 of toggle link 72.

Rocking lever 68 and rocking cam 78 cooperate to position a toggle driving pawl 82 fixed by a pivot stud 84 to toggle link 72. Pawl 82 has a forwardly extending nose 85 which is engaged, when type key 28 is depressed, by a toothed snatch roll 86 continuously rotated in a clockwise direction by the typewriter motor (not shown).

At its rear end toggle link 72 is connected by a wire link 88 to type action 29; more specifically, to a type bar actuating sub-lever 90 pivoted on a sub-lever segment (not shown) by a sub-lever fulcrum rod 94. Sub-lever 90 is connected by an elongated type bar actuating link 96 to type bar 32 which is pivotally mounted on a type bar segment (not shown) in the usual manner by a fulcrum rod 98.

Depression of type key 28 pivots its supporting link 44 in a counterclockwise direction, raising trigger 56 and causing it to rock pawl control lever 68 in a clockwise direction and stretch spring 76. The movement of lever 68 and the concurrent clockwise movement of cam 78 cause pawl 82 to snap into engagement with snatch roll 86. Engagement of a snatch roll tooth with the pawl nose 85 drives the pawl and toggle link downwardly around anchor rod 74. As link 72 moves down, it pulls on link 88, pivoting sub-lever 90 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement of the sub-lever pulls link 96 toward the front of typewriter 10, pivoting type bar 32 in a clockwise direction and moving type head 31 upwardly to the printing position.

As was indicated above, depression of type key 28 also actuates ribbon vibrator mechanism 34 to elevate ribbon 18 to the printing position. Referring again to FIGURE 1, toggle link 72 has a vertically directed extension 100 normally abutted by a laterally extending bail 102. At the right-hand end of the typewriter, bail 102 is fixed to a L-shaped crank 104 rotatably supported on a laterally extending shaft 106 fixed to any appropriate manner to the typewriter frame (bail 102 is similarly supported at the left-hand end of the typewriter).

Crank 104 has a rear wardly extending arm 108 connected, at its free end, by a screw 110 to leg 111 of a U- shaped link 112. The second leg 114 of the U-shaped link 112 is pivotally connected by a pin 116 to a bell crank 118 pivotally mounted on a shaft 120 supported in any appropriate manner from the typewriter frame. By a pin 1 22, bell crank 118 is also pivotally connected to the forward end of a rearwardly extending, elongated link 124. Adjacent its rear end, connecting link 124 is adjustably connected to a vetrically extending color shift member 126 by a screw or pin 128 which extends through a vertically elongated slot 130 in color shift member 126 into threaded engagement with the connecting link.

Adjacent its upper end, color shift member 126 is fixed to a laterally extending shaft 132 which carries, on the end thereof adjacent color shift member 126, a ribbon vibrator lift arm 134. The free end of lift arm 134 is pivotally connected to the lower end of ribbon vibrator 8 by a pin 136.

As explained above, toggle link 72 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about anchor rod 74 when type key 28 is depressed. As the toggle link rotates, toggle link extension 100 engages bail 102, pivoting it and crank 104 in a clockwise direction about shaft 106. As the crank rotates, its rearwardly extending arm 108 moves downwardly, pulling the U-shaped link 112 down and rotating bell crank 118 in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 120. This pulls connecting link 124 toward the front of the typewriter, rotating color shift member 126, shaft 132, and ribbon vibrator lift arm 134 in a clockwise direction. As lift arm 134 rotates, it elevates ribbon vibrator 8 to a height which may be varied by moving the pin 128 connecting link 124 and color shift member 126 in the slot through which it extends. The mechanism is so adjusted that the ribbon will be moved to the printing position slightly ahead of type bar head 31 so that it will be at the printing position before it is struck by one of the two characters 138 formed on the type head.

At the end of the power driven printing stroke, a return spring 139, connected between toggle link 72 and the typewriter frame, returns the type bar 32, link 96, and sub-lever 90 of type action 29 to their normal positions. Spring 76 returns lever 68 and pawl 82 to their normal positions upon disengagement of the snatch rol land pawl; and the keystem return spring returns keystem 36 and its supporting links to their normal positions when finger pressure on key 28 is released.

A spring 140 connected between an upwardly directed extension 142 of the U-shaped link 112 in the ribbon vibrator actuating mechanism 34 and a typewriter frame member (not shown) moves link 112 upwardly, pivoting bell crank 118 in a clockwise direction about shaft 120. This moves connecting link 124 to the rear, rotating color shift meber 126, shaft 132, and lift arm 134 in a counterclockwise direction, lowering ribbon vibrator 8 and dropping ribbon 18 to its normal position to expose the printed line. At the same time, upward movement of U-shaped link 112 pivots crank 104 in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 106, moving bail 102 forwardly until it abuts the upwardly directed extension 100 of toggle link 72.

Referring next to FIGURES 2 and 3, ribbon vibrator 8 is a unitary Y-shaped member stamped or otherwise formed from any desired light, springlike metal. In general, ribbon vibrator 8 includes a stem 144, a first pair of ribbon guiding arms 146 and 148 integral with and parallel to stem 144, and a second pair of ribbon guiding arms 150 and 152 which lie opposite and are spaced from arms 146 and 148, respectively.

Stern 144 is straight, rigid, and elongated and has oppositely directed, semi-circular projections 154 and 156 formed adjacent its lower end to provide two adigned eyelets 157. The pin 136 fixing vibrator 8 to lift arm 134 extends through eyelets 157 as shown in FIGURE 1.

The first pair of ribbon guiding arms 146 and 148 is connected to the upper end of stem 144 by outwardly and upwardly directed, integral connecting portions 158 and 160. A arms 146 and 148 are disposed in parallel, spaced apart relationship and are parallel to stem 144. These arms are slightly displaced from the plane of stem 144 as shown in FIGURE 3.

Channel-like guides 162 and 164 are bent from the inner edges of the rigid ribbon guiding arms '146 and 148. Guides 162 and 164 cooperate with a stationary ribbon vibrator guide in the manner shown in United States Patent No. 3,062,351 issued to F. H. Canny, Nov. 6, 1962, for Quick-change Ribbon Mechanism to guide ribbon vibrator 8 as it is raised and lowered by lift arm 134.

When the blank from which ribbon vibrator 8 is formed is stamped, the ribbon guiding arms 150 and 152 are generally coplanar with and extend in opposite directions from the lower ends of the associated arms 146 and 148, respectively. Arms 150 and 152 are then bent up to their illustrated final positions opposite arms 146 and 148. The U-shaped bends 166 and 168 thus formed are of substantial importance since they permit the ribbon to move freely through the vibrator.

Ar-ms 150 and 152 are maintained in parallel, spaced relationship to the associated arms 146 and 148 by downwardly directed projections 170 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 3) lanced from ribbon guiding arm-s 146 and 148 and extending toward arms 1'50 and 152, respectively. As is best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, each of the projections 170 has a downwardly inclined semiconical surface 171 and a generally square lower edge 172 extending substantially normally from the arm 146 or 148 to the associated arm or 152. Projections 170 may be formed in the blank stamping operation. When ribbon guiding arrns 150 and 152 are bent, they are over-bent so that the resilience or elasticity of the arms will maintain them firmly but displaceably engaged with projections 170.

A member of advantages are obtained from the construction just described. By forming the cooperating pairs of ribbon guiding arms 146-1 50 and 148-152 in the manner described above, the distance d (see FIG- URE 6) between the adjacent faces of each pair of cooperating arms may be accurately controlled, and, moreover, may be made substantially as small as desired to provide closer confinement of and better support for the very thin silk and similar ribbons. This dimension may be and typically will be in the range of 0004-0012 inch.

Another important feature of the foregoing construction, which also helps to prevent wedging or buckling of thin ribbons is that the ribbon is completely confined at each side of vibrator 8. For example, at the lefthand side of the vibrator, the ribbon is confined, on its sides, by the ribbon guiding arms 146 and 150, at the bottom by the U-shaped bend 166, and at its upper edge by the lanced projection 170 (see FIGURES 3 and 6) extending from ribbon guiding arm 14 6 to ribbon guiding arm 150. The square lower edges 172 of the lanced projections 170 provide a positive stop against undesired movement of the ribbon from the vibrator during operation of the typewriter, yet permit the ribbon to be readily removed by the operator when desired. The ribbon is similarly confined and supported at the right-hand side of the vibrator.

Another important advantage of the foregoing construction is that it greatly facilitates loading and unloading of ribbon 18. Referring to FIGURE 6, ribbon 18 is loaded by moving it downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 17 3. Outwardly bent tabs 174 and 176, formed on the upper ends of rigid ribbon guiding arms 146 and 148, guide ribbon 18 between the associated arms 146 and 150 (or 148 and 152). As the ribbon moves downwardly, it forces ribbon guiding arms 150 and 15-2 away from the associated arms 146 and 148 permitting the ribbon to pass by lanced projections 170. This movement is facilitated by the conical surfaces 171 of projections 170 acting as camming surfaces, guiding the ribbon between the ribbon guiding arms in each of the two arm pairs 1464 50 and 148452. As the trailing edge of the ribbon clears the projections, arms 150 and 152 spring back against them to confine the ribbon, the edges 172 of lanced projections 170 positively locking the ribbon in place.

The foregoing construction is also extremely simple in that it is formed from a single stamping and with a minimum number of forming operations.

The modified ribbon vibrator 178 illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 5, and 8 is substantially identical, in most respects, to the ribbon vibrator 8 illustrated in FIGURES 1-3. Identical reference characters have therefore been employed 'for the W0 vibrators except that those employed in conjunction with vibrator 178 are followed by the letter a.

The only substantial distinctions between ribbon vibrators 8 and 17 8 are as follows: In ribbon vibrator 178, the ribbon guiding arms 150a and 152a are formed as separate members and, at their lower ends, are fastened to ribbon guiding arms 146a and 148a, respectiveb 1y, by spot welds 180 and 18 2. To provide the proper spacing between the cooperating pairs of ribbon guiding arms Men-150a and 143a-152a, the lower end portions 184 of ribbon guiding arms 150a and 152a are ofiset from their ribbon supporting portions 186 by connecting portions 188 as shown in FIGURE 5.

' Referring now to FIGURE 8, in ribbon vibrator 178, the ribbon is supported on projections 190 and 192 lanced from ribbon guiding arms 146a and 1 48a which extend through apertures 194 in ribbon guiding arms 150a and 152a. Projections 190 and 192 perm-it the ribbon to move freely through the vibrator Without snagging.

In all other respects, ribbon vibrator 178 is substantially identical to the ribbon vibrator 8 described above.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without depart-ing from the spiritor essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A ribbon vibrator and carrier for typewriting and like machines, comprising:

(a) a stern;

(b) a first pair of spaced apart ribbon guiding arms integral with said stern;

(c) a second pair of ribbon guiding arms, one of said second pair of arms lying opposite each of said first pair of arms and spring biased thereagainst; and

(d) means extending between each of said second ribbon guiding arms and the associated one of said first ribbon guiding arms and spacing said arms apart to form a completely enclosed ribbon receiving aperture, said tlast-named means including projections formed in one of each of the co-operating pair of arms and spacing said one arm from the co-operating arm, each said projection having a substantially semiconical camming surface extending from the arm in which it is formed at its upper end to the co-operating arm at its lower end and a lower locking edge generally normal to the arm in which it is formed and the co-operating arm.

2. The ribbon vibrator and carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the associated first and second ribbon guiding arms are integral.

3. The ribbon vibrator and carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said second arms are independent components and are fixed to said first arms.

4. The ribbon vibrator and carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the co-operating first and second arms are substantially parallel and the distance between said arms is between 0.004 and 0.012 inch.

5. In a typewriter having a platen, a vertically displaceable ribbon vibrator adjacent said platen, ribbon spools on opposite sides of said vibrator, at least one type key effective upon depression to efiect movement of the head of a type bar to a printing position on said platen and concurrently actuate a ribbon vibrator mechanism to elevate said vibrator and raise a ribbon wound on said spools and threaded through said vibrator to the printing position, the improvement wherein said vibrator comprises:

(a) a stem;

(b) a first pair of spaced apart ribbon guiding arms integrai with said stem;

(c) a second pair of ribbon guiding arms, one of said second pair of arms lying opposite each of said first pair of arms and spring biased thereagainst; and

(d) means extending between each of said second ribbon guiding arms and the associated one of said first 3,265,180 7 8 ribbon guiding arms and spacing said arms apart to References Cited by the Examiner form a completely enclosed ribbon receiving aper- UNITED STATES PATENTS ture, said last-named means including projections formed in one of each of the co-operating pair of 251011 7/1961 Barkdo 197"-17 arms and spacing said one arm from the co-operating 5 949,721 2/1910 Young 197 170 arm, each said projection having a substantially semi- 217471718 5/1956 May 197-470 X colniciaitcamfming dsurtfatce extending frotng the arm itn FOREIGN PATENTS w 1c 1 1s orme a 1 s upper en 0 e co-opera ing arm at its lower end and a lower locking edge 44O116 12/1935 Great Bntam generally normal to the arm in which it is formed 10 279,309 3/1952 Switzerland and the co-operating arm. 6. The typewriter as defined in claim 5, wherein said ROBERT PULFREYP'lma'y Exammer' vibrator is a single, unitary member. ERNEST T. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RIBBON VIBRATOR AND CARRIER FOR TYPEWRITING AND LIKE MACHINES, COMPRISING: (A) A STEM; (B) A FIRST PAIR OF SPACED APART RIBBON GUIDING ARMS INTEGRAL WITH SAID STEM; (C) A SECOND PAIR OF RIBBON GUIDING ARMS, ONE OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF ARMS LYING OPPOSITE EACH OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF ARMS AND SPRING BIASED THEREAGAINST; AND (D) MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN EACH OF SAID SECOND RIBBON GUIDING ARMS AND THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID FIRST RIBBON GUIDING ARMS AND SPACING SAID ARMS APART TO FORM A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED RIBBON RECEIVING APER- 